Friday, 26 June 2015

Nagpur: After Maggi, it's now the turn of network marketing major Amway Enterprises to withdraw its products from the market. The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Wednesdaydirected Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) to go ahead with its action of recalling seven Amway products.A division bench comprising justice Bhushan Gavai and justice Indira Jain tersely asked FSSAI what was preventing them from taking action when products were found unfit for consumption in their scientific studies. The court then adjourned hearing of PIL filed by social workers Sachin Khobragade and Jammu Anand through their counsel Nihal Singh Rathod by eight weeks.Earlier, FSSAI filed an affidavit through senior counsel Mehmood Parasher and Rohan Malviya that as many as 37 products of the chain marketing major were put under the scanner. Of these, seven were found to contain more than permissible quantity of minerals and vitamins as per studies conducted by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Institute for Nutrition (NIN). All these products were found without mandatory licenses and no-objection certificates (NOC) or product approvals from the food authority.Out of 37 products were under the scanner, seven including Nutrilite Natural B tablets, Calcium Magnesium D, Nutrilite Iron Folic tablets, Nutrilite Bio C, Positrim Vanilla, and Nutrilite Kids Drink in mixed fruit flavour had been rejected by the food authority. NOC of Nutrilite Salmon Omega 3, Nutrilite CH Balance and Nutrilite Fiber had expired, still they were being sold.The main reason for rejection of NOC was that ingredients such as protein and minerals exceeded beyond permissible limit in the products. Some products contained protein powder that had been denied NOC, approval or license by FSSAI, whose product approval committee had rejected all such products. However, even after warnings, the company failed towithdraw them from the market. The petitioners alleged that despite being directed by FSSAI to recall them, the company is still selling them openly in the market.Citing provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, the petitioners prayed for directives to FSSAI to recall all Amway products which are being sold without valid license/approval/NOC, and investigations from an independent body into entire episode. They also demanded conducting audit of FSSAI.

Thursday, 18 June 2015

HYDERABAD: In the wake of the controversy over Maggi noodles and cries for action against other such ready-to-eat food items, the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) conducted a raid on the Amway outlet in Somajiguda here on June 15, 2015 for allegedly selling baby food and drinks banned by the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh government. On June 5, the SCPCR received a complaint from Shyam Sundar, secretary of Corporate Frauds Watch Society, against Amway, for allegedly selling products by issuing misleading advertisements. Almost 18 products banned by the food and safety department authorities were on display at the outlet, alleged SCPCR. Officials of the SCPCR said that the Supreme Court on December 2010 had cracked down on the company on misbranding charges and selling of unhealthy products. The SCPCR alleged that Amway continued to sell products not good for children flouting the apex court orders. Products such as protein powder, chewable multi-vitamin/mineral tablets, dietary supplements, kids' toothpaste, etc, hazardous to health, were being sold by Amway, the SCPCR officials said. "Several products banned by the SC are on display. As per SC orders, neither are these allowed to be sold nor put on display in their showroom or godown," said Achyutha Rao, member of SCPCR.Rao confirmed that legal action would be taken against the company for flouting the SC order. A notice has also been sent to the principal secretary of health Suresh Chanda, he said. "We have received several complaints based on which we are planning to conduct raids on several upmarket food joints and outlets that are involved in such illegal activities. This is just the beginning," said Rao. Meanwhile, Amway denies the allegations put forth by the SCPCR. "Cases referred by the members of SCPCR were filed way back in 2007 in undivided AP and are currently sub-judice in the respective forums. We had no prior notice or intimation about this visit. We are not selling any product for which approval has been denied by FSSAI," said an Amway spokesperson. This is not the first time that Amway has been in the news for wrong reasons. Last year, the Hyderabad police had arrested Amway India's CEO, S Pinckney, following a consumer complaint against the direct-selling firm. In June 2006, Hyderabad police had shut down all offices of Amway citing illegal business model of the multi-level marketing firm.

Friday, 5 June 2015

On the lines of action against Nestle product Maggi, Corporate Frauds Watch sought action against the misbranded and adulterated products of Amway India in the country. Amway has already been facing criminal charges in more than one State in India. Corporate Frauds Watch in a plea to the director of Institute of Preventive Medicine, Public Health Labs and Food (Health) Administration, Hyderabad sought against Amway.

1. I, M.V. Shyam Sundar, Secretary of
Corporate Frauds watch Society, Hyderabad branch, humbly submit that the Corporate
Frauds Watch Society is a registered civil society organisation striving to
create awareness among general public against the frauds being committed in the
corporate veil.

2. It came to our notice that M/s. Amway
India Private Ltd, Somajiguda, Hyderabad has been selling products by issuing
misleading advertisements. Apart from it, several criminal cases have been
pending against the products of the M/s Amway India. Still Amway has been
selling the same products with impunity which is detrimental to the health of
general public. Previously, also several
products of the Amway were found to be misbranded, not food and adulterated in the
united state of A.P. The Food Safety
authorities of several State Governments in India have also found during their
tests that the products are not safe and initiated action against the M/s Amway
India Enterprises. Several people also
brought to our notice that their health was affected after using the products
of Amway. But, no action has been
initiated in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh against Amway though it is
aggressively selling products in the two states.

3. In the interest of health of general public, it is prayed that
the esteemed officer may be pleased to launch enquiry by testing the products
of Amway regarding its genuineness in terms of the Food Safety and Standards
Act, 2006 and initiate action and save the health lakhs of innocent people.